"By all shapes, sizes and measurements, Birmingham are underdogs and they will fancy their chances in a one-off cup tie."

2015/16 The Story So Far

Points

Won

Drawn

Lost

Games

Birmingham

12

3

3

1

7

Aston Villa

4

1

1

4

6

As Opta stats show, Birmingham City go into this particular derby with a huge advantage over Aston Villa in terms of momentum.

Both teams, of course, are in different divisions but, in cup competitions, League Two sides can beat clubs more than one division above them with ease. Villa definitely shouldn't get complacent about their Premier League advantage over their Championship rivals.

Tim Poole

Tim Poole is a sports journalist for HITC with a love of football, tennis and snooker in particular.His career to date has seen him speak to former Manchester United boss David Moyes, interview snooker world champion Mark Selby and be snubbed by Premier League managers and players in more than one language!He is a massive Roger Federer fan and lives by the motto that 'sport is life.' When he's not writing about it, he's playing it, be it football, tennis, basketball, badminton, table tennis, darts, snooker, golf or even water polo. He is better at some than others...